Bridge construction.



PATBNTED AUG. 25, 1903.

W. P. WALKER. BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22. 1903 NO MODEL.

lgaer fovsy lforgzys UNITED STATES atented August-25,

PATENT OFFICE.

BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 737,537, dated August 25, 1903.

Application filed June 22,1903. Serial No. 162,669. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VILLIS F. WALKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oharlestown, in the county of Jefferson and State of Vest Virginia, have invented a new and useful Bridge Construction, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of flooring to be used in bridges, fireproof buildings, or other structures, and has for its principal object to provide a finished structure in the form of sections or slabs of fireproof material.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved means for securing together aplurality of iron beams by tie-b ars,which also constitute a supporting means for the concrete or other material forming the body portion of the construction, and thus dispense with the use of bolts, rivets, and auxiliary securing devices.

WVith these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantagesof the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse sectional elevation of a section or slab constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, a portion of the concrete or similar filling material having been removed. side elevation of a section or slab.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

While the present invention contemplates principally the construction of independent sections of flooring or slabs to be placed in position 'and form a part of the structure, it may also be employed in the building of bridges, in flooring, or in erecting the walls or partitions of buildings and other structures.

In carrying out the invention I employ a plurality of beams 1, I-beams being used in the present instance, although channel-bars Fig. 3 is a.

The

actor of the work and the stress to which it is to be subjected. When employed for flooring, a greater number of such bars are used than where walls or partitions are being made. After the cross-bars have been placed in position suitable tools are employed to twist the bars at points between the parallel bars 1, the twisting operation placing the intermediate portions of the bars at such an angle to the plane in which they were primarily disposed and the plane of the openings 2 as to prevent any movement of the beams 1 toward or from each other, the beams being positively locked from movement and held in proper position without the neces sity of employing auxiliary braces, bolts, or other connections. The twisting of the bars serves to stiffen the structure in every direction and aside from preventing movement of the beams from and toward each other will further prevent their independentlongitudr nal movement out of transverse alinement. The outer ends of the bars 3 are bent into a plane parallel with the plane of the Webs of the beams and held closely in engagement with the outer surface thereof, so as to we vent separation of the outer beam members. The several beams and bars form a supporting-framework for a body of concrete, cement, or some similar filling agent which forms the body of the flooring or Walls and is placed in position While in a plastic or semiplastic condition and afterward dried, the beams being thoroughly covered, and thus protected from oxidation.

In order to assist in strengthening the structure, auxiliary diagonal braces 4 may be employed, such braces extending across between adjacent beams and from one cross-bar to the adjacent cross-bar, and the end portions of said diagonal braces are provided with openings alining with the openings of the struc turalbeams to permit the passage of the transverse bars, so that when the latter are twisted to proper position the diagonal braces will also be firmly clamped in place without the necessity of riveting.

A structure of the character described may be made in quantities and sold as a commercial article, being made in the form of slabs of suitable size and being thoroughly dried before delivered are in readiness to be placed in position in a bridge or other structure, avoiding the delay generally necessary for the drying of the cement or other plastic material and the expense usually incurred in placing such material in position, where a supportingplatform must first be built for the concrete or cement and then removed after the latter has dried. It is, however, obvious that the structure may be employed directly in the building of bridge and other flooring, walls, and partitions and any desired number of structural beams assembled in place before the twisting operation of the cross-bars is started or the twisting operation may be carried on successively as successive beams are placed in position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. In fireproof construction, a plurality of structural iron beams having alining openings, transversely-disposed flattened tie-bars extending through the openings, the intermediate portions of the tie-bars being twisted at an angle to the plane of the openings to thereby lock the beams in position.

'2. In fireproof construction, a plurality of structural iron beams having alining openings,transversely-disposed tie-bars extending through the openings, the intermediate portions of the tie-bars being twisted between the beams to prevent movement of the latter toward or from each other and the end portions of the tie-bars being bent at an angle to the plane of the openings to prevent movement of the outer beam structure.

3. A section or slab comprising a plurality of structural iron beams having transverselydisposed alining openings, tie-bars extending through the openings and twisted at points between the beams in order to maintain the latter in proper position, and a filling of primarily plastic material in which the beams and bars are embedded. H

4. A section or slab for flooring and like pur poses, comprising a plurality of structural iron beams having transversely disposed alining openings, flat bars passing through the openings and twisted at points between the beams to positions at an angle to the plane of the openings, and a filling of primarily plastic material in which all of the beams and. bars are embedded.

5. In fireproof construction, a plurality of structural iron beams each provided with transversely-disposed alining openings, diagonal tie-bars extending between the beams, transversely-disposed tie-bars formed of fiattened metal passing through the openings of the braces and the similar openings of the beams, the intermediate portions of said bars being twisted to prevent independent movement of any of the beams or braces.

In testimony that I claim theforegoing as my ownI have hereto affixed .my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WVILLIS F. \VALKER. 

